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MMD > Archives > February 2000 > 2000.02.16 > 02Prev  Next


21-1/4" Symphonion in Polyphon Gambling Case
By Marty Roenigk

It sounds like this was a gambling model Symphonion.  These models had
a mechanism behind the window that every so often would dispense a
token.  It rarely paid out, based on a cycle of 50 or so.

I have had a couple of these in the past but they were Polyphons
(see Bowers' Encyclopedia, page 155, style 104P, lower left).  I didn't
know Symphonion also made them.  On the Polyphon a bell would ring when
the token or coin paid out, obviously not appropriate in a bell playing
Symphonion.  Is it possible that the Symphonion mechanism is in a
Polyphon case?

Marty Roenigk
www.mechantiques.com

 [ Darwin says the instrument is indeed a Symphonium movement in
 [ a Polyphon case.  Therefore the German slogan applies to the
 [ Polyphon gambling model:  "When the (coin) bell rings the coin
 [ pops out."   Maybe the original Polyphon movement wore out
 [ from too much gambling!  Also in the Encyclopedia, on page 230,
 [ upper left, is a similar Symphonion style 132 coin-op instrument.
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Wed 16 Feb 2000, 11:22:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  21-1/4, Case, Gambling, Polyphon, Symphonion

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